But instead of dwelling on the tragedy, the Winterbottoms are giving back.

"We wanted to keep her memory alive," said Winterbottom, speaking to a crowd.

This is the sixth year the family organized Laura's March.

"We wanted to do something, all we could, to end the kind of sexual violence that took Laura's life," the mother said.

The event raises thousands of dollars annually for organizations dedicated to ending violence against women.

"Funds from the LKW (Laura Kate Winterbottom) grant hugely impact our program," said Kristin Baker, a nurse manager at Fletcher Allen Health Care's emergency department. She said money from Laura's March will help fund sexual assault training at the hospital.

"A tremendous and heartfelt thank you to the Winterbottoms for making it possible," Baker said, amid applause.

The family said they're happy to make a difference -- in fact, it's a goal.

"We're not the biggest foundation, but we find a little niche that somebody else is not funding and we try to fund it," said Ned Winterbottom, Laura's father. "We want to do things that wouldn't get done if we didn't raise the money."

For that, the Winterbottoms said, if their angel was watching over, she'd be smiling.

"I think she'd be pretty proud of her family," said Winterbottom.

The other beneficiary of this year's Laura's March was Women Helping Battered Women, a non-profit organization that provides services to 4,600 people each year. Staff said money from the event will help fund emergency assistance and go to victims of abuse and their children.

The Winterbottoms estimate this year's event raised about $20,000.

In 2007, Gerald Montgomery, 35, admitted to kidnapping, raping, beating and strangling 31-year-old Laura Winterbottom. He is serving 43 years to life in prison.